Friday Favorites - The One Where Nothing Goes Together.

It's March.

Oh, thank the sweet baby springtime Jesus, it's March.

It's been March for a week, you say? 

Maybe, but the snowstorm and 7° wind chill we had this week did a pretty damn good job making me forget.

I know I've gone on record before by saying that I hate March, but I believe that I also said I loved it. 

And if you're new and a bit confused, read THIS POST. It will explain why my dark and brittle soul is about to start to crack like the skin on my winter hardened heels.

Or don't, and I'll give you the Cliff Notes version -

3 reasons I hate March:

1. It's still ass-crack cold and is typically the snowiest month of the year (I have no idea where that expression just came from. My ass-crack typically is warmish, as are most ass-cracks, I believe. Whatever. I'm leaving it in).

2. see #1

3. see #1

3 reasons I love March:

1. My birthday is in March.

2. Spring Break is in March.

3. see #s 1 and 2.

But regardless of my manic feelings toward the month, today I've decided to love it. I mean, it is Friday, today is sunny and the temperature is supposed to be warmish (meaning above 25°. Doesn't take much, folks...doesn't take much). 

I'm seriously considering a pedicure.

But before I go look for the sandpaper block, surgical mask and wire cutters, I've got some Friday Favorites to share. 

 

I know, I know. Totally unoriginal favorite, but hear me out.

For Christmas I got the complete series on Blu-ray and couldn't wait to share one of my all time favorite shows with Thing 1, who'd never seen an episode. We had grand plans to start at episode 1 and work our way all the way through. I figured we'd be done by now.

But thanks to all that damn AP homework and rehearsals and projects, we've never even started them (sometimes having a smart girl really wrecks my plans).

And then, this past weekend, a wonderful turn of events took place.

Thing 1 got sick.

She never gets sick (she has accrued a total of I think two sick days in all her high school years...and remember, she's a junior).

Anyway, she stayed home on Monday, Tuesday was a snow day, and in between all the homework she was still doing anyway, we had ourselves a good old-fashioned Friends-a-thon. 

And even though I've seen every episode multiple times, there's nothing like watching them all over again - in order - with your 17 year old daughter who's old enough to "get" a good boner joke -- and nothing like seeing the gigantic cordless phones and ridiculous clothes to make you feel every bit old enough to have a 17 year old daughter. 

Although, I have to say, seeing Jennifer Aniston wearing overalls in most of the first season's episodes totally validated my fashion choices in the mid-90's - when I wore overalls for three straight years.

Watching Thing 1 watch this scene (one of my all time favorites) for the first time was a beautiful thing.

And when Thing 1 said, "Oh! She had your hairstyle!", I held her close (snotty nose and all) and whispered that she'd always - always - be my favorite.

*Update* - It's now Friday...she's feeling better...and has worked her way through Season Two. 

I'm so proud. 

My famous Spaghetti Sauce - 

I say "my", but in all honesty I cannot take credit for this sauce that everyone who eats loves (and subsequently begs me for the recipe). It was my mother-in-law's recipe. She was a fabulous cook. When Husband and I were dating in college and we'd go to his parents' house for Sunday dinners, I'd be so happy when I walked in and smelled this sauce simmering.  My mother-in-law passed away almost 18 years ago, but her recipe definitely lives on. It's Husband's favorite dish (besides me, of course) and I make it a lot. 

Since I just made it the other day, I thought I'd share it with you. 

Let me know if you make it. 

But only if you like it. 

Karan's Famous Spaghetti Sauce

1 lb. ground meat (I use ground turkey and I swear you cannot tell the difference. But if you'd rather kill a cow, go with beef)

1 large can Crushed Tomatoes

1 regular can Tomato Sauce

1 small can Tomato Paste

3-4 stalks of celery

1 smallish yellow onion (or white)

1/2 - 3/4 can chopped olives

mushrooms to your liking

1 TBSP chopped Parsley

1 TSP Basil

1 TSP Oregano

1 Bay Leaf (and whoever gets it in their spaghetti gets ridiculed all through dinner)

pinch Rosemary

pinch Tarragon

Salt 

Pepper

1 C. Red Wine (and another for you to drink while cooking)

Chop celery and onion. Brown with meat. Add a few of the celery leaves (torn up). Add salt and pepper to your liking.

In crock pot, add the tomato cans, olives and spices. Mix.

When meat is browned (and drained), add to tomato mixture.

Add the cup of wine. Drink a cup of wine.

Mix.

Add the mushrooms (if you want).

Cook on HIGH for about 5 hours. I usually then turn it to LOW or WARM for an additional hour.

And of course I didn't think about taking photos when I made it on Wednesday until I was all through, so this mess will have to do.

At least you can see what size cans I'm talking about. 

Pay no attention to the glass of wine you may or may not see. The fact that it was noon shouldn't make you judge me. Remember, I do not have small children at home with me during the day. 

Aaand...justified.

Signs of warmer weather -

The other day I was at Target and saw this -

and I about peed my pants.

Sure, it would've frozen, but still.

Beach towels!? Oh, good lord. Have I almost survived winter in Minnesota? Again?

And then I walked around the corner and the heavens parted and I swear to god the Target angels began to sing, because there they were. 

Flip Flops.

Rows and rows of flip flops.

I all but threw my snow boots across the store and immediately started putting my gross and dried out feet in every pair, trying my best to do a happy jig despite my two feet being hobbled together with that damn piece of elastic.  

No worries, I made it work. 

And today at Costco I bought 2 lbs. of strawberries for less than $5. And they were good.

We go through about 1 lb. of strawberries every night in this house in the spring and summer. My kids are sorely Vitamin C and Potassium deficient from about September - March. 

Whatever. It all evens out.

YMFT's One Year Blogiversary - 

Don't worry. I won't rehash it (but if you missed it, you can rehash it here.)

Although the way my family treated my last Saturday, I'd kind of like to.

This conversation may have taken place - 

Me: Geeze. My blog's birthday is a bigger deal than my birthday.

Husband: Yeah, well your blog is new and exciting and you're old and wrinkly.

But he got me my very own MacBook to celebrate not only the year of being an "official" writer but also being a published author so I forgave him. 

And speaking of the whole "published author" thing - make sure and come back here on Monday (facebook, too)! 

I'll be sharing Big news about the book!

Okay, fine...I'll give you a hint....

A vote for me is a vote for Ross and Rachel.